Stravaiging and Camping the Scottish Hills and Islands

A day of 2 halves – an An Teallach top. Sunday March 11th 2018.

We’d chased the weather for the weekend and were in Ullapool on Sunday morning. The forecast was for an improving day so we had a later than average start at Dundonnell to head up An Teallach.

The local feral goats were wandering around the car park.

Dundonnell goat:

Things were looking reasonable with a patch of blue sky above and a hope of some sunshine. The path up from Dundonnell is typical of a lot of Munro route – rather eroded. It does have quite a lot of nice sandstone plates however.

Ascent from Dundonnell:

Once up to about 300m the outlier Glas Mheall Mor appears. It was looking rather nice and clear of cloud.

Glas Mheall Mor appears:

Once up to about 400m and we were more or less in the snowline.

Glas Mheall Mor from snowline:

We made very slow progress from Meall Garbh towards Sron a Choire – the Beinn Dearg group and the Fannichs were mist-wreathed and very atmospheric. We spent a lot of time standing and looking at them, enjoying the strengthening sun.

Fannichs:

Beinn Dearg group:

Fannichs:

Deargs:

There’s a decent view of Little Loch Broom too – although Assynt beyond was rather grey and clagged. We were relieved not to have chosen Assynt.

Little Loch Broom and Ben More Coigach:

Finally the nose of Glas Mheall Mor intruded to conceal the Fannichs.

The Fannichs about to be concealed:

There was decent snow cover to walk up – not solid, but firm enough for good progress without the need for ironmongery.

H on Meall Garbh:

Once up to Sron a Choire there is a view of the peaks of An Teallach.

The munros of An Teallach:

Sgurr Fiona looks rather intimidating.

Sgurr Fiona:

Winter has not improved our fitness, it felt a long way to get up to the bealach between Glas Mheall Mor and Bidean a Ghlas Thuill. A pleasant surprise to see a fog bank in Glas Tholl, the coire between Glas Mheall Mor and Bidean a Ghlas Thuill.

Glas Tholl inversion:

Glas Tholl pano:

We decided to head out the Glas Mheall Mor ridge, not visited on previous visits to An Teallach. It gives rather nice views of the ridge between Bidean a Ghlas Thuill and Glas Mheall Liath. As on our previous visits to An Teallach the best of the hill was directly into the sun for us making photos hard to take. Really need to plan a proper trip one of these days.

Bidean a Ghlas Thuill ridge to Glas Mheall Liath:

As for the full ascent the snow was firm enough to walk over, but soft enough to get a foot into for grip. Easy, safe walking.

H heading out to Glas Mheall Mor:

Bidean a Ghlas Thuill from Glas Mheall Mor ridge:

Glas Mheall Mor ridge:

The Fannichs were completely clear – a view we’ve never had from the Fannichs themselves which have been a clagfest for us.

Fannichs:

A little streamer of mist played with Bidean a Ghlas Thuill.

Mist on Bidean a Ghlas Thuill:

Sat and had lunch on Glas Mheall Mor – the skies were clearing to complete blue and the sun was warm. What a lovely day.

Bidean a Ghlas Thuill from Glas Mheall Mor:

We noticed that the wind direction had reversed to a northerly, and despite blue skies there were tendrils of mist forming on some tops. Didn’t think too much about it.

Bidean a Ghlas Thuill summit:

….and then the day changed. The top clagged in properly, albeit with the sun disc just visible and its warmth still palpable.

Clag onset:

We hoped it would clear but it didn’t. Decided to head down at this point, Bidean a Ghlas Thuill’s ascent looked a little steep for us as decidedly non-winter hillwalkers.

It cooled substantially as we dropped, presumably a temperature inversion. The wind also picked up a bit.

Descent in mist:

Reversed route without much ado – could more or less follow our own tracks home. Eventually descended below the mist into a cool, grey day.

Little Loch Broom:

The skies were clearing again as we reached Dundonnell. A cracking hill, once again not very well planned angles for taking photos, but nice to get a clear view of some of the more dramatic parts of the mountain.